The Bald Eagle

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Hypothesis: Writers Write

Hello, Everyone! It’s the first Wednesday of the month, and it's time for us to reach out to each other:

Click highlighted IWSG to join

It’s time for another meeting of the Insecure Writers Support
Group – IWSG started by the amazingNinja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh.
Alex stood out and caught my
attention during the A to Z Blogging Challenge this year. Checking out his IWSG
Website, I’ve found writers who are excellent in their craft and don’t mind
sharing their weaknesses and strengths to encourage each other.I can honestly say this site is a safe
haven for any writer whether secure or insecure with writing.

Click the highlighted IWSG if you would like to be a part of this
phenomenal group. You won’t regret it.

Our purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts
and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak.

Having friends as guests from the United States,
July started out with extreme pressure for me, which means that I struggled with the fact that
I was not writing as much as I desired, which threw me into a boxing fight
with myself about ordering my priorities, which caused me to question my own sense
of destiny and the path I was taking to get where I want to be.

Hypothesis: Writers write. There is no doubt in my mind about this
hypothesis when it is used as a reference for what a writer does, but the variables that determine the 'when’ of a writer’s
writing time can clog up any novel or blog article or short story.

Being at the beck and call of our fictional or non-fictional characters 24/7 for 365 days in the year brings destruction.Don’t believe me?Look at some of those writers who never got
pass their first book after it was published. The world waited on a second book,
but the first book had imprisoned them and refused to let them move on to write the second one.

So, for three weeks in July, I practiced not writing on my manuscripts and articles,
not looking at my emails, not even going to my own Facebook, Twitter, and
Wattpad, and not working on my own blogs. Instead, I looked at other writer’s
blogs, and I read, I mean really read, what they were writing, rather than just glancing through on the way to another blog posting by another
writer. I let what they wrote sink in
and juggle my heart and my brain and wrote comments that I hope generated
encouragement and let them feel that I cared about their writing. And you know what?It did me sooooo much good!

So, what about my hypothesis? It is an inherent
belief in my genetic makeup that writers write, however, within me is also the
belief that effective writers step back and cheer other writers on.

Thus,

considering all the variables of my
hypothesis, both positive and negative, I have come to the following conclusion:

Hi Pat, thanks for hosting! Wayhay for you! I am that person who spends their time trying to catch up with themselves. Trouble is, when I stop to look at what everyone else is doing I start to worry that maybe I should be doing that too and get distracted from what I should be doing (sigh)

Hi Angela,I know that feeling. Looking at others and what they do makes me lose my peace of mind, so i don't do it anymore. I've finally decided that I have enough problems trying to keep up with myself. Thanks for dropping by. Shalom,Pat

Hi Melissa,I can understand that. That happens sometime. Life throws us a curve ball that we don't expect. Those are the times when you'll find me writing feverishly with my iPad late in night or early in the morning.

Hi Pat! What always surprises me is there seem to be several people I know - really nice happy people - who aren't driven to write fiction. And I ask myself, why can't I be like that? And then I remember that the voices in side my head are dying to get their stories out, and if they just keep crowding in there, trapped...well, there won't be much room left for anything else

Hi Melodie, I've met some writers of fiction that are driven to be writers. They do it whenever. They don't wait up late at night with their characters telling them how to write a piece of dialogue. It used to bother me until I realise that there is something special about a writer who can so much life in their characters that the characters can talk. So I keep learning to not look at others. That's a lesson that repeats itself in my life. So keep letting your characters out. Tell your stories. Thank you for dropping by. Shalom,Pat

Hi Diane,Thank you. You're so right. Burnout comes too easily. Sometimes it is even slips up on us. Thanks for the compliment about the pics. I love my t-shirt. It's a matter of identifying with the team for me and I appreciate the IWSG team.Shalom,Pat

Hi Pat! Yes, we need to take breaks, refreshment for the soul. And... We must force ourselves to not feel guilty while we are doing that! I love seeing you outside in the sunshine instead of in your office! I absolutely positively LOVE your sweet smile and want to see it more!

Hi Deirdre,I love the point you have pointed out about not feeling guilty about taking a break. We shouldn't feel guilty. And thank you my dear for the compliment. You are the second person that has said I need to smile more and I need to check that out. I didn't realise I wasn't. Thank you for stopping by. Shalom,Pat

Completely! My issue is going on break for too long...because I really want to just hang out with my baby, but I also want to be online, but I also NEED to write. =) It's so hard to find the balance some days, eh?

Hi Crystal,You know, sometimes we have to take long breaks and especially when we are mothers with babies. There is nothing wrong with that. If I were you, I wouldn't even try to balance because you put your own self under stress. Write when the baby is sleeping if you can. Go online when the baby is sleeping, if you can. Your first priority is enjoying your baby. So hang out with him or her. Those hanging out years go fast and before you know it they are gone. Thank you for dropping by. Shalom,Pat

Breaks are good, from anything that you do. You need time to refresh and recharge and reevaluate priorities. In this day and age of constantly being connected and expected to be "working" (no matter what your job), it's easy to forget to take a break. It's why we have holidays and weekends!

Hi C.D.,Agreed. Breaks are good and as you say it's easy to forget to take a break. But it is also hard to take off on a holiday or just relax on the weekend. I had to make myself a rule that says, you will not work on the holiday unless it is a matter of extreme importance and it cannot be avoided.Thanks for dropping by.Shalom,Pat

Loving your t-shirt, Pat. Just got mine this week. I was thrilled it actually fit! I also took the month of July off to work on my stuff. Didn't read though. That's what September is for. Thanks for co-hosting. Thanks for inspiring.

You are so "write" about writers needing to take breaks and not beating ourselves up about it. It's important to stop staring at a computer or notepad and go outside and experience LIFE. That's where the inspiration is, that how we recharge our batteries.

Writers write but we write so many different things from blog posts and social media posts to novels and poems. It all counts. And when we write also factors in. But all writers should breaks from their characters from everything online to just live a little.

Hi Tamara,I know the feeling. I have someone very close to me who is sick so I am doing lots of adjusting my schedule to go to doctor appointments with him and just be a comfort when needed. So, I've had to become more flexible and I've had to learn to be kinder to myself. Stop being so hard on me. So take it easy on yourself. Do what you can. Don't put more pressure on yourself by saying I'm going to wait until fall. Just do what you can now. Thank you for dropping by.Shalom,Pat

In my downtime yesterday, I spent time learning a bit about blogging and marketing, and reading through new profiles on newer (to me) social media sites. Sometimes that gets overwhelming, so having a few hours to do only that helped me get a grip on where I want to focus.

Thanks for sharing your hypothesis. And for co-hosting today. I'm coming off a blogging break myself and with the year almost done, I'm raring to go and complete my writing projects and submit some writing pieces.

Hello Liz,Thank you my dear. You know this would be a great group for you to join. We post only once a month on the first Wednesday of the month. Think about it. I love it every time you drop by. Take care.Shalom,Pat

I can really relate to this post, Pat. I've taken writer vacations before to clear my head. It's so important! I often say being a writer is like being a mother - it never STOPS. You carry it with you 24/7-365. So we have to control it by stepping out of the office per se. And, I'm a firm believer in encouraging other writers and learning from them.

Hi Kai,You have hit the nail on the head, "writer is like being a mother - it never stops."I participated in my first writing workshop last year in Atlanta and what a joy that was. This year, I'm headed to Italy to the Women's Fiction Festival in Matera and I am looking forward to it. So, we have to get out of the office and like you, I firmly believe in encouraging other writers. The pie is big enough for us all.Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. Shalom,Pat

Hi TBM,Right On. That is so good to hear. It has taken me a long time to get to where you are, but now that I am there, I feel the difference when I am writing. I have more energy and my inspiration is strengthened. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.Shalom,Pat

Hi Susan,Thank you. I love my T-shirt. I find the blue to also be a very nice colour. Thank you also for your compliment. We gain our wisdom through our life experiences and opening ourselves up to others. What little wisdom that I do have I want to pass on. it doesn't do me any good when I am dead. Thank you once again for sharing your thoughts.Shalom,Pat

Hi Madilyn,Breaks are good for us as you have said. I found myself being pressured by my own drive to be Ms. Perfect and do it all and realised that that wasn't going to work. I am glad I did come to that realisation, because I had a wonderful visit with my friends and family and I learned a lot by taking the time to really read the writer blogs that I follow. Thank you so much for dropping by. Shalom,Pat

Yes, we writers write. Yet we are still writers, even when we are not writing. Letting go of the past work is important, or getting trapped is certainly a risk to future wonders. Thanks for co-hosting IWSG this month!

I often take breaks from working on a manuscript to just live my life and get refreshed. This usually happens after a book comes out and it always bothers me that I can't seem to jump right into another project. I forgot about the ISWG this month, so I"m going to hurry and go write my post. I found yours very inspiring!

Thanks for co-hosting today...I take breaks all the time, but then I usually busy myself with something else. My focus shifts. Sometimes I spend too much time reading other people's work and not my own and vice versa. I'm currently seeking balance. I think if I can find balance, rest will fit in there somewhere.

Hi Toinette,Fantastic that you read other people's works. That is so important. As for balance, now that's another thing. It is hard to find. Thank you so much for dropping by and sharing your thoughts.Shalom,Pat

Wonderful post, Pat. Yes, breaks are necessary for a writer. Breaks provide new ideas, expand our writing horizons, so to speak. Whatever we do when we don't write eventually becomes food for our writing.

HI Olga,Yes, yes, yes! I like what you say about breaks, and especially your last sentence, "whatever we do when we don't write eventually becomes food for our writing." Love it. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.Shalom,Pat

Hi Loni,I know exactly what you mean. I didn't realise how much I was glossing over until I took the time to really sit down and read what was being written. I've made my mind up to do it more often because I gain from the practice in more ways than one. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.Shalom,Pat

Hello Aurora,It is an amazing group and it may be a group that you're interested in. We post once a month on the first Wednesday of each month. I personally am glad I joined the group after the A to Z Blogging Challenge this year. Think about it. Thank you so much for dropping by my dear. Shalom,Pat

Hi Chemist Ken,I am always surprised when I read other people's blogs. Concentrating on what someone else writes frees my mind and when I get back to what I need to write, I am refreshed. Thank you for dropping by. Shalom,Pat

Hi M Pax,Yes, I did make good use of my non-writing time but I have to admit that I didn't think so at first. It was only after I started reading other's blogs that I began to realise it. Good to hear you read something about our craft between major projects. That is another thing that I like to do also. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.Shalom,Pat

I love this! For awhile I bought into the whole writing 24/7 thing, because everyone seemed to be bragging about word counts and I felt like I had to keep up. But now I find that my writing is so much better when I step back from time to time. And taking a break is my go-to when I'm stuck on how to fix a plot hole.

Hi Jenni,Right On! I know the feeling. I let myself also get push in a peg that didn't fit because I was listening to others bragging about their word counts and working on social media and I thought, where do they get the energy and how do they do it. I stepped back and decided that I didn't want to be 24/7 for 365 days in the year because I was a writer. It is amazing how inspired I have become. We need to take breaks.Thank you so much for stopping by. Shalom,Pat

Dear Patti, first and foremost, thank you for your insightful article. To me, writers write is more of an axiom than a hypothesis. But true writers spend considerable time reading. Probably every writer will agree that she began writing after absorbing tons of good literature, and that she still reads as a must of her craft.

Hi Sis,So true. True writers spend a considerable amount of time reading and absorbing good literature to develop their craft and maybe they read some bad literature to experience methods they do not want to use. Reading is one of those grassroots fact for me because it is my belief that any writer who wants to write books that leave footprints in our society knows that he or she has to be a lover of words and a voracious reader of literature. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and it was so nice to see you here, my dear Sister.Take care.Shalom,Patti

Love your post, Pat!Yes, taking a break is so important! Great hypothesis - thanks for sharing. What a rewarding exercise! To step away from your manuscripts, articles, e-mails and social media, and immerse yourself in other worlds... we can learn so much from others...Thank you for co-hosting the IWSG this month.

Hi Michelle, It was indeed a wonderful experience not concentrating on what I do, but reading what others write. It was refreshing and I learned much. I am very happy that I did it. Thank you so much for dropping by and sharing your thoughts.Shalom,Pat

I look at writing like any other job. You can't do it 24/7/365 or you burn yourself out. You need days off to relax and not think about the job. (Although not thinking about writing is pretty darn hard.)

Hi Shah,Then, take time to recharge, even if it is only for on a four day weekend. I really needed to recharge and I am so happy I did take a break.Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing.Shalom,Pat

So true. I have taken up to a year long break. Priorities needed to be juggled. The first time I took a 'break' I was terrified I'd lost the passion. That I'd been fooling myself that I was writing a novel. When I did return to continue the story, it all came back, just as strong as before. Breaks, yes, they are essential for the sake of one's health and, even perhaps, for the sake of the story. Blessings.

Hi Feather,Good for you. Sometimes we have to drop out and find out where we are and in which direction we're going. Especially when it comes to writing a novel, it is so important to have a fresh take on your story. So, I've planned more breaks for the future already.Thank you so much for dropping by and sharing your thoughts. All the best with your book.Shalom,Pat

Hello Pat, You have reminded me of something I did without fail in the early days of my writing life, but have neglected to do in the last few years. I am first and foremost, a performing musician, and for a while that was not available to me, due to a motor disorder. I still had some sort of muse that demanded some kind of creativity, so I turned to writing; something I had done with a bit of gusto in college. Once my motor disorder was diagnosed (essential tremor, easily treated and managed, and I am able to play viola again) I went back to my viola and writing went to the back burner, although I wasn't satisfied with that, because I do enjoy it.

I became a bit lazy, though, and cut out all that bothersome reading of other people's blogs and absorbing other information, so that my own writing became a bit, er, one-note, shall we say? I really do not like to do anything in a slap-dash manner, but do at least like to attempt to try my best, although I am a bit oblivious at times as to why things stop working. The novel I wrote was one that I burped up during 2013's NaNoWriMo, and while I'm not ready to euthanize it yet, it definitely needs major surgery; plotlines appear and disappear, as do characters. Name changes, as well as gender changes are rampant. Lots and lots of philosophizing about the meaning of life to cover up the fact that there is NO life in the thing go on for pages and pages. It might be great satire in some far-off century. Who knows?

It's been a pleasure reading your blog, Pat. I wish you the best, and thank you so much for visiting. I will be back; I learned much today. Good wishes for your planned breaks. Mary

So, you're a musician also. So am I. My heart floats between writing and music. It cost you lot of strength and hope to get back to performing again. I know because I too had a 3 year break before I returned to the stage as a singer. I am very happy that you can play again. Thank you so much for dropping by and sharing your thoughts so completely.I really do appreciate it.Shalom,Pat

I agree, writers need the nourishment of daily activities, meditative breaks and the reading or other really good writers.

I write regularly, have for years, but I don't write all the time. At least not on the page. Much of my writing is done in my head -- the genesis of stories from what I've seen and heard, from the ambience of my environment. I don't get overly attached to my characters, whether fictional or nonfictional. They're around, but they don't control me. I'm too curious about everything, so my mind is thereby open.

Hi My Dear Friend,Like you, a lot of my planning and plotting begins in my head or I'll find myself writing things down in my notes app or evernote. However, I do get attached to my characters and when I have to kill them, i sit at my computer with tears in my eyes. But I know they have to die any order for me to progress further, so I don't have a hard time killing them. Just don't like feeling the pain. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts here, and thanks for the compliment. I think the IWSG T-Shirt is marvelous. By the way, I am serene and happy. There's a quietness settling in and around me that gives me a joyous feeling.Shalom,Patricia

Sometimes we all need times to step back and take a breath. Otherwise we wouldn't have anything to write about! The trick is giving ourselves permission to do that and not feel guilty - or insecure. Listening to what others do is definitely a great use of this time.

Hi Nick,Well said. The trick is giving ourselves permission. We often battle with guilt and not feeling that we deserve a break, but we do. Thank you so much for dropping by and sharing your thoughts. Shalom,Pat

Hello Pat. Tell me why I haven't met you before. My loss. It's so lovely to meet you this IWSG week. 'If writers write, then, writers must take breaks.' Yes! It's wonderful to take the time to read blog posts properly and not just skim read. I've learned so much by doing this. I may not get to as many blogs, but I learn a lot.

We have to get over the guilts. I've never believed in writing every day, although I probably do in one way or another.

Hi Denise,You know I thought the same thing when I read your quote from Annie Dillard. I love that quote. Give it! Give it all! Give it now. I so agree with you about getting over our quilt complex and thinking that we don't deserve a break. Personally, I don't write on my manuscripts everyday, but I do find myself writing because I look at blogs and try to leave meaningful comments. So, I consider that writing. Thank you so much and I have you also on my blogroll.All the best. Shalom,Pat

I found this encouraging to read. Interesting the burn out after the first book.There is so much pressure to publish and do so perfectly. I've appreciated the support of other writers. It's still amazing to me. I'm late making the rounds, but I wanted to thank you for co-hosting and sharing your thoughts.

Good Morning Sharon,I'm sorry it has taken so long to say thanks, but I've been preparing for a writing contest.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I haven't had my first book published yet, but I can imagine that the burn out is tremendous. I believe that is one of the reasons why networking with other writers is so essential and also having three or four friends with whom you can bare your soul too. Shalom,Patricia

Thanks for co-hosting and visiting my page! That is great advice, it's good to take a break once in a while and enjoy reading. It has been very encouraging to me to find that there are a lot of writers out there who share common interests, values, and insecurities. I also like reading fiction and examining the writer's techniques and character development.

Good Morning Elizabeth,I'm sorry it has taken so long to say thanks, but I've been preparing for a writing contest.

Thank you so much for dropping by and sharing your thoughts. One of the most encouraging things that I've discovered in my writing career is that writers have certain things in common when it comes to insecurities. I'm not out there alone and that is good to know. Have a great Friday.Shalom,Patricia

Good Morning Quanie,I'm sorry that it has taken me so long to say thanks, but I've been preparing for a writing contest.

Thank you so much for dropping by. Yes, we do need time to recharge, and as writers we sometimes forget that, because our muses spur us to keep going. Sometimes, it is necessary to take matters in our own hands and tell our muse or whatever feeling we have that makes us keep striving, to sit down while we take a break.